Election debate: Great Yarmouth candidates answer your questions

Brandon Lewis (Conservative), James Joyce (Liberal Democrat), Lara Norris (Labour), Alan Grey (UKIP), Harry Webb (Green) and Sam Townley (CISTA) all took part in Tuesday's online debate. You can read the list of questions and answers below.

• Julie: I am still an undecided voter and would like to know what links the candidates have to the local area?

I have lived here for a few years now in Gorleston. My son Max works in Market Gates. Personally I believe that you should root yourself in the community so I am a trustee of Sunbeams Play, A volunteer at the local radio station and work alongside a number of charities - my proudest moment recently is the HOPE bus for the homeless.

by Labour: Lara Norris

thanks, julie I have a strong connection to the younger side of the great yarmouth areas population. I have heard from many of people that are undecided on who to vote for, modern politics doesnt appeal to many younger people. Me and my party offer an alternative to other parties in the sense that we stand for the liberty for adults to consume cannabis. A legally regulated cannabis market would benefit britain massively.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

Obviously I have represented Great Yarmouth since 2010. In doing that I have represented local people on their own specific casework issues as well as wider campaings specific for our area. This often has included lobbying for our local benefit such as the increased investment we need & want for our roads, flood defences, coastal erosion, school, health care and other issues. I am determined to ensure we continue that. I live locally (and have since before I was elected) and am very lucky to have been able to represent such a wonderful cosntiteuncy with so much to offer & would lke to continue that work to ensure we ge tthe very best for Great Yarmouth.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

i have lived and worked in gt yar for over 40 yrs my grandchildren go to school here win or lose the election this will still be my home

by UKIP: Alan Grey

I am a local boy who want to give something back to the community, I feel that as a local I can give all my local knowledge, and real invest in our town creating more local jobs and better decent homes for all also using my as a parish councillor

by Green: Harry Webb

Norfolk county councillor, currently live in Broadland, if elected would move to great Yarmouth (20 miles) Rub a local post office believe in strengthening local communities.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

• Lee Sutton asks Where do the candidates stand on the UK housing crisis and the need for house building in the context of

a) protecting green open spaces in the urban areas

b) providing homes in the rural areas

We all want somewhere warm safe and secure to call home we at the green party if elected would abolish the bedroom tax, and would provide 500,000 social homes by 2020, and also fight to say no building on green field sites

by Green: Harry Webb

I am proud to have been the planning minister under a government that has ensured protection of the greenbelt, the planning framework is called the NPPF and it specifcally makes clear greenbelt is only to be used in exceptional cirumstances and brownfield development should always be first. We have moved (in the 2011 Localism Act) planning power back to local authorities and away from whitehall, to stop Labours old top down target based approach. it is now up to locally democratically acountable councillors to decide whatt should be built and where. Going further, we hav eintroduced neighbourhood planning, whihc moves power directly into the community so the local villages or town neighbourhoods can decide and it has weight in planning law.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I believe that there should be a large amount of space allocated for rural areas around the great yarmouth area, as parks and recreation grounds are very important for our children and those who do not have many other avenues of entertainment. I believe that we should provide more rural homes too, such as the building of new villages and extending our current villages.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

we want to protect green sites once used they are lost forever so a priority is to use brown field sites and make sure infrastruture keeps pace with development

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Believe in both. Villages need houses to be built if not they die. there are many brown field sites dotted around the rural areas. Believe totally in the neede for Social Housing

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Good quality homes are vital for stability in families - I know it was important to mine.

I would like to see good affordable homes for families in rural areas so that communities can stay together. For urban areas open spaces and good planning is essential for good mental health. Something we will commit to protect.

by Labour: Lara Norris

I have been working with the Council for Protection of Rural England who have identified, they have outlined, around 1,500,000 sites they belive can be brownfield development. We have already now put hundreds of millions of pounds into devleoping brownfield and i have been holding roudntable meetings with CPRE (inc their Norfolk rep) around hwo we progress to make sure all brownfield land is sued. We pledge to have 90% of identififed brownfieldl with planning in place by 2020. Ultimately it has to be local people who decide, unlike Labour, we trust local people and have given the palning power to them via neighbourhood planning.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

Without Housing for all ages Villages die.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

• Roly Marks, Clippesby: Do candidates accept there is a problem with affordable homes being upgraded with conservatories etc and sold on, constantly eroding the supply and leading to more homes being built unnecessarily?

If so, what will they do to tackle the problem?

Yes, I believe there is a big problem with affordable housing around the area, I would push for cheaper rents and more affordable housing. I'm also against the bedroom tax and would like to see it scrapped as this affects and worsens the lives of the most vulnerable.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

if its a private home then we have no say unless it breaks planning regs but we must make sure we have enough affordable housing

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Yes I accept there is a problem, push up prices they become unaffordable for first tine buyer and this is a real issue for the future generations

by Green: Harry Webb

Affordable homes need to be just that...affordable. The sell off of social housing and the lack of ambition for the future of housing will have a long lasting legacy. When given the choice to buy my housing association home I declined - I felt it was more important that another family had the same chances that my children had had.

by Labour: Lara Norris

We have built around 217,000 affordable homes since 2010, as part of building over 700,000 homes in the last few years. We have just started the 2015-2018 program which is already ahead of schedual and is bulding 275,000 more afforable homes at the fastest rate in over 20 years. I am proud of that and we also need starter homes , which we will build 200,000 of extra and will be sold with a 20% discount to first time byuers, it is a shame Labour nationally oppose this discount which helps people get onto the housing ladder. this links with Help To Buy which has helped hundreds of families across Great Yarmouth already and i met a family just yesterday who were inly able to buy thanks to Help to Buy which we introduced.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I do not believe in the sale of Social Housing so yes. Social/ Council Housing is not there for the profit of whoever is living in it, is is there as part of a mix of all types of Housing. It is for a specific need.

Selling off Social Housing not only reduces the stock but also will lead to a more split society. Social Housing enterprises don't want it.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

House building is at its lowest level since the 1920's. A good housing policy does not make ownership the only model although it can be wonderful to own your own home. They are not just houses, they are homes. Lets recognise the huge impact housing has on our society and our future and prioritise it accordingly.

by Labour: Lara Norris

Social housing is different to affordable housing. We have seen more social homes built under this government in the last 5 years than in the entire 13 years of labour. We are seeing councils build social housing now at the fastest rate in about 23 years and that is good. Under labour Right to buy replacement was a disgraceful 1:170, the reinvigorated scheme of 2012 is 1:1 and the new proposed scheme will also be 1:1 replacement plus the sale of the most expensive homes (up to £1m in london we have seen) will allow for our new fund that will release and make more brownfield land viable to get another 400,000 homes built on brownfield land. Again all of this will fit with a locally driven planning system where we trust local people, not a suit in Whitehall (unlike Labour who want regional and central control).

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

LABOUR left the lowest level of housebuilding isnce 1923, we have re built house building now to level of 2007 and growing.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

• Trevor Broadbent, Caister: How important is the dualling of the Acle Straight to both the prosperity of the town and the safety of its residents?

Dualling is crucial without it we cant progress the town or keep the business we have. as a county councillor I have been keeping this issue alive and topmost in councll plans

by UKIP: Alan Grey

I agree that dualling the Acle straight is necessary as it does indeed open up access to yarmouth and surrounding villages. Safety should be a number one priority.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

Totally not only a dualled Acle straight but a dualled A47. We need though not only to be fully and easily reachable by road which also means a third river crossing but also proper rail connections.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Trevor you have a very important question every year locally we have here of another collision on the Acle straight, we need to reduce traffic by better public transport links and looking more at rail

by Green: Harry Webb

Our roads and infraststructure are hugely important and that i why i campaign so hard for their improvement. I am delighted we secrued almost £6million for the new road soon to open in Bradwell, linking with Gorleston but your right we need access to the area to improve. So, while Labour promise the talking shop of the infrastrcuture commision, Cosnervatives have pledged money and action. I was delighted we have secured over £600million for our regions roads including £300million for the A47. We will see around £40m of that spent in Great yarmouth and improving the A12 link too. The Acle straight, vauxhall roundabout, gapton hall and hafresy plus more improvements in Gorleston. We need to solve the acle stragith traffice issue, which this will, then we cna push for more and eventual dualling. This current program includes circa £10m for Acle straight itself including widening.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

There are many photos of many politicians standing by the side of the Acle Straight vowing to make a difference. Every week the paramedics and fire service has to deal with the problems with safety. We know this but the people in Westminster don't. That is why we want to move to a regional infrastructure model so local people make local decisions. For someone who wants to bring Westminster closer to Great Yarmouth through my people's panel this change of priority is vital.

by Labour: Lara Norris

we need to take transport back into public hand so we can really make a difference and create a service for the people not for the share holders!

by Green: Harry Webb

Dualling is also a safety issue. we had money before to do this, all it is, is make do and mend what we need is real development.

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Gt Yarmouth has to have proper infrastructure connections. The Harbour will only succeed with them in place.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Labour downgraded the A47 in around 2006 and now just want to have another talking shop, named the infrastructure commission. We are pledging the money now and this work will start later this year! I have never promised a dualled acle straight, (Ive always been very straight on this) as that would currently get us to traffic quicker (labour falied on thier promises of that for 13 years here). We now have a guarantee under Cosnervatives of this work being done to solve our traffic issues and safety on the Acle straight, then we will be in the right position to work across Norfolk to get the whole A476 dualled including the Acle straight.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

Regional funding would also put the people back at the heart of the decision making - and let them feel the rewards. It is not for Westminster to take the glory - it is for us to take the initiative.

I would fight to ensure that we have the voice we need to make sure we get the support we need to make this happen.

by Labour: Lara Norris

• BG: The dualling of the A47 is far too expensive project to even be considered. Something should have been done about it years ago before costs spiralled out of control. Having said that what are the candidates intentions about Yarmouth Railway station which looks very dilapidated and hardly shows the town in a good light to visitors. Bearing in mind if something was done about the station the railway company needs to make sure trains do run and not cancelled as frequently as they are because of breakdowns.

Being a regular user of the yarmouth-norwich train service I couldn't agree more. I believe that we need to invest in our local railways and all local transport for that matter to create a better and safer service for our residents and holidaymakers.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

We strongly agree and have been campaigning hard for renationalisation we believe that a way we can look to improve out road day to day traffic is by looking more at investing in freight by rail this would reduce traffic taking stress off the road

by Green: Harry Webb

I agree this should have been planned years ago successive governments have there chance to connect us to the rest of norfolk but failed. The apperance of the station sells both it and the town so it needs to be inproved

by UKIP: Alan Grey

As I said in the previous question rail links are just as important as road. Rail needs to be upgraded, not simply the link to Norwich but to other parts of the UK. Yes London but to me just as importantly the Midlands and the North. We need to, through better infrastructure, get more companies to relocate to this part of the UK and create jobs.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Again, I seem to remember photos of politicians promising action here in 2010. What we need is action - not just words. The Station is one of the first impressions of our town. Good connectivity will bring jobs and investment.

The Labour Party will within the first 100 days of government set up a company so that we can bid publically for rail franchises and take our railways back into public hands where this best serves the public. Then we will be able to see that investment in our railway stations rather than in the pockets of shareholders.

by Labour: Lara Norris

We need long term stability for both rail and road so we can build for the future working closely with all. it cant be done on an individual basis

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Ultimately we will all want the A47 dualled, not just to ease traffic but to make sure we continue to have local business develop & grow and create jobs. Firstly we need to sort the traffic and safety issues and the £50 million will be looking to do that.

I totally agree re our station, it is simply not good enough and I brought the Minister (claire Perry) here recently to see it. My website does show it in 2009 and more recently and there is a big improvement, not least of all from the community action work i have done there with local residents to paint it, plant it and improve it. We recently secured the bike & go scheme, which i opened but we need more and a more attractive entracne to our town. The big problem is that we ahve not had a train service company with a long enough franchise to invest heavily. they have all been 1 & 2 year contracts since about 2008 and later this year that will change. The new franchise will be for 25 years and that will allow a proper investment. I have met with Abellio who currently run the line and seen their plans which are good and I will work with them to secure fundign to ensure we get the station we all want and which Great yarmouth deserves. We also need to link it better with our toursim industry (i have worked on busses lining the camps) and the town center too. I am the one politician who has campaigned on this consistently.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

We would really invest in our local station making it attractive once more for locals and for holiday makers to are town.

by Green: Harry Webb

For me it is not a case of one or the other we need a fully dualled A47 and vastly improved rail links to the Midlands and the North Frieight needs to be transported by both road and rail.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

nationalised industry simply creates monopolies, not good investment or efficiancy or good service as a result, as some will remember from past experience. That is just back to the past and will also cost government potentially a huge amount and hence drive up the deficit and our debt and hurt our ecnomic recovery, which will hit our interest rates.

The long term franchise (something Labour never did) is a sensible way to ensure long enough business plans for the train companies to be able to make serious investments in the service and hence our Great Yarmouth station.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

After meeting with the public transport users group and conducted some research with rail and bus users I know the other major problem is forward transport fro the station. We need to think more about the whole journey experience.

by Labour: Lara Norris

• Vick Smith asks ‏@GYSocialMedia What will the candidates do to support small #GreatYarmouth businesses if elected?

I would personally work with small businesses, to ensure their growth and development. After all, small businesses are what makes our local area thrive. I would also like to see more generous grants towards small businesses.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

firstly we would cut the heavy burden of eu red tape prevent big business being late with payments cut business rates by 20% and push for 30 mins freeparking

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Ive always worked with local businesses, both individually and via the Federation of Small business & the CHamber (both of which i was a mamber of when i ran my buisness before bieng elected) they are great organisations. We are blessed with some superb businesses aross great yarmouth and of course in our villages. I ran my Yarmouth Greats campaign last sumemr to highlight many of them and aprpeciate the high participation rates. I am also proud that my government cut business rates by £1bn to help small business and extended the small business rate discount scheme, which gives targettted help. Alos we cut Labours jobs tax and have confirmed we will not do one, we cut NI for small businesses too, helping them keep more of their own income to invest in their business and employ more people.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

Great question we are the only party that is fully behind support local business, I my self know this as a local business owner, we as a party would look to support local business by working to reduce business rates and give local shops and business in the town a real chance, also looking at ways to encourage people to shop local instead of big chain shopping

by Green: Harry Webb

For me small businesses are the life blood of a Community, I happen to run a village shop and am a postmaster. The key to encouraging them is truly helping them through the rigmerole of surviving everything thrown at them

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Having spent time with many and loving GYhour I was expecting this question....

Cut and freeze business rates while we review how we can make this easier in the long term for business.

We will have a small business reviewer in every department across government so we have small businesses at the heart of every decision we make.

by Labour: Lara Norris

Also make it easier for small and medium business to tender for public service contracts

by UKIP: Alan Grey

• Next question has come in live from Justine Peterson on Twitter.... Big national talking point - EU funding has contributed to the local economy and regeneration of GY. Do the candidates support an in/out referendum? #GYDebate

Small businesses are the largest growing sector - many are family run or single person operations. The things that make life hard for everyone, like energy bills, rent and transport costs affect businesses too. That is why every measure to help those suffering the cost of living crisis will help businesses too.

by Labour: Lara Norris

Locally in our town center our shops wll benefit from increased footfall and the best way to get that is to have cheaper & more free car parking charges, our council need to see sense on this and reduce the charges to encourage more people into the town and as a result we will then have more businesses in the town, which is also good for locla residents having more local options.

We have also cut red tape for busneses after so many years of labour hitting buisness so hard and their current rehotiric is worryng for our great local employers. They made it hard to employ people and seem drvien to increase the cost of employing people by increasing the tax on jobs. We will ensure we keep the most compatative tax rates for business to encourage investment and growth and emplyment, that is how we have seen over 2 million jobs created in our country since 2010

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I am 100% behind a referendum. I believe that the people should be able to choose the future of our country.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

We think a referendum should be for the people to decide making this a democratic as possible but we would campaign to stay in but improve

by Green: Harry Webb

Personally I believe in the EU. We are an integral part of Europe and have been so for thousands of years, I certainly do not support a simple in /out referendum;.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

No - and to be discussing it now with the economy so fragile is bad for business and bad for Great Yarmouth.

I want Britain to have a seat at the negotiating table not look on from the sidelines.

by Labour: Lara Norris

I was delighted to have secured assisted area status for Great Yarmouth just a few months ago (another thing Labour failed to do in 13 years) & this matters because it gives us more access to fiunding, including for infrastructure. We have just secured £2bn for renewable energy too which is great, all this links with the EU as our energy industry croses boarders, in fact it does not really recongise borders, it needs to work across the EU. However, many of us have never had a say on the EU and i think we must have one. I fully support a referendum, i voted for it twice but Labour & Lib Dems blocked it in the last parliament. I trust people to have their say, i wish labour did too.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

yes we support a referendum its the peoples choice. 'EU funding' is our money inthe first placeby leaving the eu we will save ourselves 9.7bn net per year

by UKIP: Alan Grey

For me it is not in/out. It is about working within Europe to improve it and you can't do that from the outside.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

There is only one way to guaruntee a referendum, vote Conservative on May 7th.

Only an outright Conservative government can deliver a referendum and for that Conservatives need to win in Geat Yarmouth.

I have voted both times for a referendum and will do again, we need one. People have a right to have their say.It is a shame Labor do not trust people, that is totally at odds with the promise of a peoples panel!

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

• Martyn Thompson: What can the candidates do to improve aspiration for young people in Gy? Jobs and a future would lower drug & alcohol abuse.

I would campaign for a royal commission on the uk's drug laws. By creating a regulated cannabis market, we can tax cannabis to help yarmouths infrastructure and schools. Also by regulating we will be taking cannabis away from children and only allowing adults to purchase the substance. CISTA stands for harm reduction, first and foremost.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

greater vocational choice cutting tuition fees for core subjects and not being frightened of celebrating success. and showing the young that they can achieve. increasing apprenticeship places will also help

by UKIP: Alan Grey

We need to ensure we get continued improvement in our schools, i fully support teh academy work and free schools development. We have seen some great improvements locally already as a result of the changes and we are still early days. We need to ensure young people are fully aware of the fantastic opportunities we have ahead of us in Great Yarmouth and currently. Whenever i vist the schools or the colleges i stress this point, whether visiting or at GY College as an assistant governor. We have high tech industry, tourism, construction and the energy industry with its supply line which voers whole energy from nuclear to renewable and the opportunities are huge &exciting too. Unemployment is down 48% locally since 2010 and there is more to do to go even further.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

We need to invest in our Society. Schooling needs to be focused on children so nthat when they reach 18 they really do have the skills to be productive members of Society. It is not simply about which certificates they get

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

The Labour Party believes in investing in the next generation. We will reduce tuition fees, increase the number of apprentices and support young people into work and study.

But it's not all about studying - it also about the whole person so we will look at relationship and life skills in schools and good careers advice.

by Labour: Lara Norris

We are the party for the future generations, we would look to create within GY hundreds of renewables jobs looking at investing in wind tidal and solar working with college

by Green: Harry Webb

Furthermore, following the recent decriminalisation of all drugs in portugal we can see that drug use has actually dropped for them and better healthcare has been provided for the people most affected. Addiction is treated as an illness and then can be better helped without the legal ramifications of drug use.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

Locally, because we recognise the importance of young people in politics, community and local decision making I have also pledged to run a summer school every year, this will tie in with my apprentice who will work with me for a year - I will pay the living wage to ensure we have the community champions to cheerlead for Great Yarmouth into the future.

by Labour: Lara Norris

I think it is right that we move more and more power locally to the schools and colleges who know what thier pupils need and who can work with local buisness to ensure we prepare young people fo the opportunities locally.OUr local skills for energy team, coming from EEEGR is a super example of that and has helped deliver the Nexus center & I have worked with them on this sort of project and would contiue to. I have done that over the last few years and if you elect me on May 7th will continue to work with all locally to do that over the next 5 years.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

Children's Services/ Education needs to be focused fully on the individual child. Every child has a voice and we need to listen to it. They are not all the same. No one group of children are more important than another

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

• Continuing in the education vein Stuart Rimmer, principal at Great Yarmouth College, has the following question. Following a recent announcement of cuts of up to a quarter in funding for adult learning courses, it could be argued that this poses a risk of decimating further education provision and leaving millions of the most vulnerable adults without access to any opportunity to improve their education.

Non-apprenticeship provision also faces cuts which will hit vulnerable learners hardest.

How will the parties if in government respond to the current funding crisis in further education?

A legally regulated cannabis market would help just that. Last year in the US state of Colorado (where recreational cannabis use has became legal) they have seen $50 million in the first year of regulation going straight to public schools and education facilities. We can reap those same benefits.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

We as a party realise that student debt is set to reach £100billion by 2018, we would scrap tuition fees saving each student on average of £44,000 per student we would look to make all education free

by Green: Harry Webb

we will not wast billions on vanity projects such as HS2 so that we can allocate more money for adult and t further education its not that we dont have the money its how we use it

by UKIP: Alan Grey

I returned to school after having my children - I was 24. Without it i wouldn't be sitting here. My opponents may think this is good reason to continue on their current path!

For my family it changed our lives. I will always fight to keep education open to all. Education sets you free and it should always be protected.

by Labour: Lara Norris

I am an assistant governor at GY College so know Stuart well and I am delighted we manged to secure the roughly £6million for the improvements needed and I was there to open the new facility a few months ago with the Sklills Minister. We need to ensure we are offering the right education for people and we will be looking ot devleop 3 million more apprentices in the next parliament which will build on the 3,800 people in Great Yarmouth who have benefitted from an apprentiship in the last 5 years, i will be encouraging the college to be at the forefront of that & i know they will delvier for the young people of great yarmouth. Ultimately we also have do what the last Laour govenrment failed to do, live within our means as a country.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

the importance of life long learning is paramount. there should be no cut off between what one leans at school, through apprenticeships and adult learning. its aLL ABOUT SKILLING PEOPLE FOR LIFE.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

Working to give everyone the best chance in life and not holding anyone back

Students should not have to work hard all through college, get the best results possible and they say can I afford to go to uni, this should not even enter the discussion

by Green: Harry Webb

I cannot agree more with harry, ideally uni should be free.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIPS need be be ring fenced and taken out of the political debate.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

I went back to university after having gone to work when i left school, so i was a mature student (just about:-) ) and I made the consious decision to go back and study to move into a new career, though I also believe we need to ensure apprentiships grow as they prepare us or the amazing jobs that are on offer locally and nationaly and can and should be valued as much as any degree. It is right to ensure we have an offer that works for everyone regardless of their background, age or what career they wish to go after.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

We will protect education in any budget - because education should be for everyone - not just the rich. Well education people can play their part in society with dignity. No cut in budget should evers stifle that. When it comes to priorities - Mine are with growth not cuts.

by Labour: Lara Norris

• BG: What are the candidates views on our town council closing down public toilets. What effect do they think this is going to have on tourists visiting the Borough and the impression they will take away with them.

I believe that the public toilets should be invested in and reopened with new technology like water-less urinals and the latest in automatic flushing, this would not only create a great public image, but help us save big in the long run on operating costs.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

As a parish councillor for caister I have recently been talking to lots of local people about there concerns sadly when it comes to cut backs it always us locals that feel it, We would fight hard to insure we have toilets for all visitors and local people in our town - keep them open!!!

by Green: Harry Webb

A council for me a Town Council is there to provide facilities and Public Toilets are one of those especially in a town like Gt Yarmouth where the holiday trade is so important.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

we spend £35,000 on wooden bollards that will last just 6 years, and £1m on the town centre I wouid rather see this money spent on things like public toilets. after all we are a holiday town

by UKIP: Alan Grey

It is a ridiculous decision Labour have taken in Great Yarmouth. It is a council issue but i have campainged on this and pushed them to look again, In some areas we ahve found GYBC allocating huge costs to keeping htem open and our parishes can get prices to do them at almost a 1/3 of the cost GYBC allocate, that says somehting about Labour run GYBC efficieny! We have already had some success encouraging GYBC to keepsome open, even if only for this summer. It is short sighted and they should be doing as other councils across the country are doing by being more efficient and proecting front line serivces like this. We are a tourism area and some of our local businesses reply on the toilets, without them they may have to close costing jobs and loss to tourism. I am pleased the Conservative council group has peldged to keep them open. Lets remember our council has one of the highest spending powers per houshold in the whole of East Anglia, they cna afford to keep them open, they should keep them open.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I think it is very sad that the council has had to cut the budget for public toilets. £132 per household cuts will mean a real impact on local people and services.

It may sound like a local decision - but it was made in Westminster.

I hope the local MP that made the decision doesn't blame it on the local council

by Labour: Lara Norris

• Big talking point coming up next.... BG has asked: What are the candidates views on our town council closing down public toilets. What effect do they think this is going to have on tourists visiting the Borough and the impression they will take away with them.

we have to look at how we spend the money we have as cutbacks cut deeper from central government

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Lara has forgotten to mention that GYBC had the biggest top up of any council in the country in her toilet reply. I secured that top up, the biggest in England. over £2million last year. so her answer is totally wrong.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I would like to work closely with the local authority and the locals to ensure that the residents of great yarmouth get their say in what matters most to them.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

It should not matter who is in power, after all we are elected by the people for the people and that should be our goal not point scoring. will always support residents !

by Green: Harry Webb

I have worked with both parties in control at GYBC over the last 5 years, as the MP the job is to work with and for every resident regardless of political persuasion and i would continue to do that. For example i worked with GYBC under labour to secure the £28 million pound flood defence scheme that i broke ground on with the labour leader around 18 months ago in Great yarmouth. I also worked with them on the Nexus center and the £6 million roughly for the new road in Gorleston/Bradwell. I will always be a loud voice regardless of who runsd the council if i feel they are not doing the right thing for residents (such as the toilets or parking charges) but i will aways work with them for the benfit of Great yarmouth.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

all councillors should work for the good of the borough at local level party colour shouldnt come into it we should make sure we attend parish and council meetings and be accessible

by UKIP: Alan Grey

For me it is not about parties but about how the electoral voted. At County Hall Labour, Greens, UKIp and Libdems are working togther. Totally different manifestos but theses have vbeen put aside so that we can all work together for the betterment of Norfolk.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

You do the right thing - and what is in the best interests of the people on Great Yarmouth.

It's about hope and change for the future - not attacking the opposition and point scoring.

I would suggest that people read the previous answers and judge us on our actions - not our words.

by Labour: Lara Norris

If you can take politics out of it, agree what needs to be done, then people will work together

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

• Our next topic is health with a question from Brian Day in Bradwell. He's asked: With the possibility of some GP surgeries moving to the James Paget Hospital, with patients facing parking costs to see their doctor, what assurances can you give people that local health services will stay local?

I am for the peoples local surgeries staying local. By moving them away we are going to be creating big problems for the vulnerable. The vulnerable do not need the hassle.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

We at the green party take the nhs back into public hands ensuring we can have real say and repeal the health and social care act 2012, We will always keep services at a local level. we would abolish parking fees

by Green: Harry Webb

i would like to see a JPH surgery but not at the expense of closures in the borough we believe in keeping things local. also under ukip we would abolish hospital parking charges to make hospitals more accessible forall

by UKIP: Alan Grey

There has been scarwmongering on this by Labour, which is sad. For exmaple the surgery in Bradwell is acutally looking to get planning permission to expand and grow. This summer our health group that runs our clinical provision (inc GP surgeries) will be doing a full consultation to look at how it ensures it is giving the best service across Great Yarmouth and we will all feed into that, after that they will make suggestions for us all to see. I support the idea of a GP surgery at the JPH as it will enhance services, support the fabulous A&E team and be a good development but not at the cost of local surgeries across Great Yarmouth. When Health East consulted recently on mental health they did take into acount the feedback we in GY gave them, i knwo they noted my input in thier final decisiona nd we got imprved service locally as a result, so we cna get this done and we cna get it right for us all in Great Yarmouth.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I am a founder member of SOS - Save our Surgeries. It was set up to ensure that people had their voices heard and came about when local residents contacted me for help.

As someone who has cared for the elderly I know that you can't ask the most vulnerable to take two busses to get access to services that should be on their doorstep. I will fight for that

by Labour: Lara Norris

I believe in local services, yes you can not supply all specialist services locally but the access to them has to be local. As an aside I don not believe in parking charges at Hospitals. I am a product of our NHS, I had a heart attack and survived through their help.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

We are the only party that has said we will fully take back the NHS into public hands creating an NHS for the people not for private companies that are pocketing £18 million a day from NHS budget! this is not on we need reform and we need it now

by Green: Harry Webb

The NHS must be kept free at the point of use. I want an NHS for the people. Not for big business with a vested interest. By abandoning the NHS we are only abandoning those that need it most. The NHS should care for everyone, not just the select few.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

Nothing will change my view that the NHS should remain free at the point of contact. For me the concept of privatisation should be kept totally away from the NHS.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

we would make sure that the NHS REMAINS FREE AT THE POINT OF NEED USING MONEY SAVED ON EU MEMBER SHIP and cancellation of vanity projects. We also oppose the use of PFI contracts and want the funded fully by taxation

by UKIP: Alan Grey

Conservatives are the only party who hae said we will back the NHS 5 year plan in full with the £8bn it needs, labour cut the NHS in wales and wnated to cut it here too, they are not offering the full funding the NHS says it needs, Cosnervatives are. We can only do that if we have a strong and secure economy that cna pay for it.

Locally, i have worked with people on issues ot ensure they get the best care. Our wonderful JPH staff had a tough time a few years ago when management at the JPH let them down badly and CQC were failing them. I was clear then and prepared, as i did to be public about the need or change. I back the fabulous front line staff at the JPH to get new Chiarman and CEo and the improvement we ahve seen since is clear as they have moved to being one of the best peforming again. I will fight hard for residents to ensure we get what we deserve, the best health care for Great Yarmouth.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

I think every person knows in their heart who they trust with our NHS.

The NHs represents everything that is good about us as a society - It was the one moment when we were truly magnificent and i will fight for it. I will protect it. not just because of what it has given me as a person but because of what it represents to us as human beings

by Labour: Lara Norris

also we are a party that would put mental health first making it a much higher priority

by Green: Harry Webb

• Vick Smith: Candidates What would be your ideal day out in #GreatYarmouth? What do you love about it?

A nice hot day, relaxing in a outdoor rural area with my friends and listening to music and having a good time, with the possibility of a barbecue.

by CISTA: Sam Townley

Enjoying the local beach and an ice cream something I've been doing from my childhood and still find that very enjoyable and love it on a nice sunny day!

by Green: Harry Webb

a nice cup of tea with the wife after walking the dogs with the family and in the evening some live music and a speckled hen!

by UKIP: Alan Grey

For me it would be a sunny day on the beach with my wife Trish and grandson Leo, then trying to drag Leo away so we can look round the Time and Tide Museum which I love and to cap it off Leo being surprised at how much he enjoyed it!.

by Lib Dem: James Joyce

That is easy, it is a day with my wife and children.

Probably starting with a run at Winterton with my dog Oz, that will always lead to one of the famous egg & bacon rolls at the Dunes cafe, popping by Martham this weekend for the scarecrow festival and then maybe a film at Holywood cinema in town, afternoon tea at Sara's Tearoom and supper at one of our Yarmouth Greats restaurants of which we have many superb offers to choose from!

No doubt my children will find a way to squeeze in mini golf in Hemsby too:-)

The nice problem we have here from the Broads to our SeaFront, is having so much to think of, we cannot possibly do it all in a day.

by Conservative: Brandon Lewis

It will be what i am going to do tonight......spending time with my family walking on the beach.

Tonight will be especially wonderful - spending time at a portuguese restaurant with my husband....on our anniversary.

Im not just a politician you know!

by Labour: Lara Norris